We previously reported on the fight going on between Tyson & US Department of Agriculture (USDA), but in case you missed it, here's a recap and an update.

• Tyson was the first poultry producer to receive approval from the USDA to advertise on it's packaging that its birds were "Raised Without Antibiotics."
• They of course milked this for all it's worth and soon launched a multi-million dollar marketing campaign.
• BUT Tyson DOES USE ANTIBIOTICS. While Tyson's chickens do not receive any antibiotics that are commonly given to humans, they do give them Ionophores, which are antibiotics that are used only in veterinary medicine and therefore not thought to affect resistance in humans.
• The USDA worked with Tyson to modify the claim last December to state the chickens were "Raised without antibiotics that impact resistance in humans."
• BUT Tyson's competitors weren't happy. Sanderson Farms, Perdue Farms and Foster Farms filed a false-advertising case.
• NOW, the USDA found out in May 2008, that Tyson was administering a small amount of an antibiotic used in humans to the chicks prior to hatching. The USDA quickly bitch slapped Tyson and withdrew approval of their label.
• Tyson then had the nerve to sue the USDA claiming that because the drug is administered before chicks hatch, they are technically not "Raised" with antibiotics.
• FINALLY, Tyson's lawsuit has been dismissed.

I think Tyson stinks in this entire issue, especially since consumers paid more for their product. Their deceptive and manipulative actions have caused me to BOYCOTT TYSON CHICKEN - they will not be getting my of my hard earned money.

Source: Advertising Age.

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